Bicycle.



No. 64!,637. Patented Ian. l6, I900. n. w. CASWELL.

BICYCLE.

(Application fil ed Dec. 7, 1897.) (No Model.)

S fter-Meg 5.

NrrED STATES DANIEL IV. OASWELL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THEADAMS & I/VESTLAKE COMPANY, OF ILLINOIS.

BICYCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 641,637, dated January16, 1900. Application filed December 7, 1897. Serial No. 661,024. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL W. OASWELL, of Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of Illinois,haveinvented certain new and useful Improvementsin Bicycles, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings and to the numerals of reference markedthereon.

My invention has reference to the rear-fork end of a bicycle, moreparticularly to the means for supporting and adjusting the rear ordriving wheel thereon and its ready removal therefrom.

The object of my invention is to support the rear or driving wheel of abicycle on the rear-fork end in such a simple and efficient manner thatit may be readily and quickly removed and replaced without disconnectingthe driving-chain, changing its adjustment or tension, or withoutdisturbing the bearing adjustment of the rear wheel.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation ofa part of the rear wheel and fork of a bicycle, showing my improvementembodied therewith. Fig. 2 is a similar view, on enlarged scale, of aportion of one rear-fork end, illustrating more clearly the manner ofapplying my invention thereto. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line 3 3of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a detail.

Similar numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the severalfigures.

The rear or driving wheel (represented by l) is supported on andrevolves around a shaft 2, which is secured at each end in a hanger 3 bymeans of a not 4. The usual sprocketwheel 5, fixed to the rear-wheel hub6, is driven in the well-known manner by a chain 7. The rear fork of thebicycle (indicated by 8) is formed on each side of the wheel 1,preferably of a tubular horizontal brace 9 and an upright brace 10,joined to or formed into a flattened end plate 11. These plates 11extend backwardly and are each provided with a horizontal slot 12. Thehangers 3, of which there are two, one for each end of the shaft 2, areeach formed with a shoulder 13 and holes 14 15, the former beingsmoothbored to receive the shaft 2, while the latter are threaded forscrew-bolts 10.

In assembling the parts thus described the hangers 3 are slipped on theends of the rear shaft 2 and secured thereon by the nuts 4. Shoulders 2,one on each end of the shaft 2, form bearings for the inner sides of thehangers and retain them in proper relation to the frame 8. In securingthe hangers to the shaft, if the nuts 4 are tightened, care must betaken that the hangers shall extend in the same radial line from theshaft; otherwise they cannot be made to bear squarely against the frame.The better practice is to leave the tightening of the nuts 4 untillater. The hangers 3 being secured on the ends of the shaft 2, asstated, and the driving-chain 7 (the ends of which are assumed to beconnected) placed on the sprocket-wheel 5, the free ends of the hangersare then passed upwardly between the flattened end plates 11 until theirshoulders 13 bear against the lower edges 17 of the said plates. Theopenings 15 in the hangers will then be in alinement with the horizontalslots 12 in the flattened plates, through which openings the screw-bolts16 are passed and tightly screwed into the hangers, thereby securely andfirmly attaching them to the frame. Should the hangers not be in thesame radial line, they can be rocked on the shaft until their shoulders13 fit squarely against the lower edges 17 of the flattened plates. Thisrocking movement cannot be given if the nuts 4 have been tightened onthe shaft, as heretofore described, before securing the hangers to theframe.

It will be seen that the sides and the shoulders 13 of the hangers 3will, when in place and engaged with the inner sides and lower edges,respectively, of the flattened plates and fastened thereto by thescrew-bolts 16, form a strong and rigid connection and one that isincapable of moving in any direction.

The tension of the driving-chainis adjusted by loosening the screw-bolts16 and moving the wheel backward or forward, as desired.

When the proper tension is obtained, the

bolts are tightened and the wheel fastened in place.

The above arrangement although adapted by careful manipulation to theadjustment of the tension of the driving-chain does not provide forreadjusting the chain tension whenever the wheel is replaced in theframe after its removal therefrom for any cause. To effeet a convenientreadjustment, I tap into the rear end of each horizontal brace 9 anadjusting-bolt 18, so arranged that its head constantly bears againstthe forward edge of its hanger 3. Vhen the chain is to be tightened, thescrew-bolts 16 are loosened and the adjusting-bolts 18 turned in adirection to force the hangers rearwardly far enough to take up theslack. A jam-nut 19 on each bolt looks it against turning. Thisconstruction provides ready means for delicately adjusting the tensionof the chain and at the same time forms a stop against which the hangersabut when they are returned to the frame.

lVhen the wheel is to be taken from the frame, the screw-bolts 16 may beremoved, which will disconnect the hangers and permit them, with thewheel, to drop from the frame. The chain may then be easily taken offthe sprocket-wheel without disconnecting it.

It will be evident from the above that the adjusting-bolts 18 have noconnection with the hangers, their heads simply abutting against theforward edges thereof, and that therefore they are not disturbed whenthe wheel is removed from the frame, but will remain set in the adjustedposition. Then the wheel is returned to the frame, as above explained,it is only necessary to press the hangers against the adjusting-bolts 18and tighten the bolts 16, which will secure the wheel in its previouslyand correctly adjusted position.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In a bicycle, a frame, anadjustable removable hanger on each side thereof for carrying the rearwheel, said hanger being provided with fiat ends lying in different butparallel planes and having a shoulder adapted to fit against the loweredge of a plate of the frame, combined with an adjusting device bearingagainst such hanger substantially in line with the axle, as set forth,

2. In a bicycle, a rear-fork end, a removable hanger on each sideadapted to carry the rear wheel, said hanger being provided with flatends lying in different but parallel planes and having a shoulderadapted to rest against the lower edge of a part of the rear-fork end,combined with a device for adjusting the hanger with relation to saidrear-fork end, said device bearing against such hanger substantially inline with the axle, as set forth.

3. In a bicycle, a slotted rear-fork end, and a hanger having a shoulderadapted to bear against one side and the lower edge of a part of saidrear-fork end, combined with an adjusting device connected to said partof the rear-fork end and bearing against the hanger substantially inline with the axle, as set forth.

a. In a bicycle, slotted rear-fork ends, a hanger secured to eachrear-fork end by means of a bolt passing through the slot, each hangerhaving a shoulder adapted to fit against its fork end, and an axlesupported by the hangers, combined with an adjusting device between eachfork end and the hanger attached thereto, and adapted to bear againstsuch hanger substantially in line with the axle, as set forth. 7

5. In a bicycle, the combination, with flattened rear-fork ends havingeach a substantially horizontal slot formed therethrough, of hangersbolted to and horizontally adjustable on the slotted rear-fork ends,said hangers having each a flattened side and a shoulder arranged tobear against one side and the lower edge of its rear-fork end, afastening device for each hanger, an axle bolted to the hangers, and anadjusting device bearing against each hanger, substantially in line withthe axle, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal.

DANIEL W. OASWELL.

